A FATHER accused of murdering his partner then going on the run in Europe spent the day before her death trying to buy drugs from people in Tonge Moor, a court heard.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court was told that Joseph Davies was released from prison at Haverigg, Cumbria, on the morning of June 1 last year and travelled to Bolton, where he met up with his long-standing partner, Kelly Davies.

Barrie Darby, prosecuting, said that in the afternoon Davies got his methadone prescription in Bolton and later he and 31-year-old Ms Davies went to Tonge Moor.

Grant Alam, who lives with his mother, Andrea Taylor, at her home in Leslie Street, Tonge Moor, told the court he was in his bedroom when the couple turned up at tea time.

He said he heard an argument downstairs between Ms Davies and Davies and his mother was telling Joseph Davies to leave.

Joseph Davies returned at 10pm. “I wanted to get rid of him as fast as I could,” said Mr Alam.

He added that he and his friend, Kieron Doherty, walked Davies, who had been drinking, to the end of the road and Mr Doherty hit him, causing a cut above his eye.

Other members of Ms Taylor’s family and their partners told how Davies and Ms Davies had visited their homes in Tonge Moor that evening, but on each occasion Davies had been asked to leave.

Rachel Jarvis said she was at Maxine Silver’s flat when Davies turned up and asked Ms Silver if he could buy sleeping tablets from her. She refused.

In a statement read out in court, Ronald Jackson said Davies also went to his home, asking where he could buy amphetamines, Davies also met up with his father, Graham, and brother, Keith, on the day he was released from prison and was talking about travelling to Thailand. Keith Davies said his brother claimed to have saved up £2,000 whilst in jail.

Joseph Davies, aged 36, of no fixed address, denies murdering Ms Davies, who was found at her home in Queen Street, Farnworth, on June 4.

She had been repeatedly stabbed through the throat and neck. The prosecution alleges Davies killed her on June 2, shortly before he was seen leaving her flat at 11pm and getting in a taxi.

He then travelled to London and took the Eurostar to Lille in France.

The following weekend he was hit by a train in The Hague, in Holland, whilst drunk and had part of his right leg amputated.

The case continues.